Abstract

In this study, we have demonstrated the fabrication of novel organic-inorganic nanobio-antimicrobial agents called “nanoflowers” (NFs) and elucidate the increase in the antimicrobial activity of NFs. This is the first report that the NFs were formed of plant extracts as the organic components and copper (II) ions (Cu2+) as the inorganic component. The Artemisia L. (Asteraceae) methanol extracts from three genotypes including A. absinthium L. (Aa), A. vulgaris L. (Av) and A. ludoviciana Nutt. (Al) were selected in the NF synthesis. The effect of the plant extract concentrations on the morphology of NFs was examined. Most regular and uniform flower-shaped morphologies were observed when a concentration of 0.1 mg mL-1 plant extract was used in the synthesis of NFs. The syntesized NFs were characterized with several techniques such as scanning electron microscopy (SEM), fourier transform infrared spectrometer (FT-IR), energy-dispersive X-ray (EDX) and X-ray diffraction analysis (XRD). The NFs exhibited much antimicrobial activity against the pathogens even at low concentrations compared to the extracts. The MICs and MBCs values for NFs were found to be range between 0.4 to 40 μg mL-1 and 40 to 400 μg mL-1 while those values for Aa, Av and Al extracts were ranged from 500-2000 μg mL-1 and 1000-4000 μg mL-1 for the studied pathogens, respectively.

Key words: Artemisia extracts • hybrid nanoflower • inhibitory property • bacterial and fungal pathogens.